Improvement in gasket foe preservation of corpses



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IMPROVED CASKET sq? THE REESE/91M 770N- OF DEAD 590/58.

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CHARLES H. KIMBALL, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 73,729, datedJanuary 28, 18 68.

IMPROVEMENT IN CASKET PRESERVATION 0P GORPSES.

Be it known that I, OHAnLEs H. KIMBALL, of Quincy, in the county of Norfolk, and State of Massachueetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Gaskets for thePreservation of Dead-Bodies previous to interment, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a casket embodying my improvement.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical seetion of the same.

Figure 3 is a top or plan view.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section.

, Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line :v :v of fig. 4; and

Figure 6 is a view of the bottom of the casket on theinside.

Similar letters indicate likeparts in the several figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a casket or case for the preservation of a corpse for a considerable length of time previous to its interment; and the invention consists of an air tight case, formed in two parts or compartments, placed one above the other, the lower portion containing the body, which is supported upon a raised rack so as toexppse the whole surface of the body to the cold air which circulates through the case, and the upper portion containing a quantity of ice, when in:nse,and having air-spuces at its sides communicating with the lower portion, through which the cold air passes from the upper to the lower portion.

v Referring to the drawings, A B represent the upper and lower portions of the casket, supported upon a stand or frame, S. The portions A and B are fitted together, and the connections made air-tight by means of India-rubber packing. Within the upper portion, A, is a metallic casing, a, supported upon slats or cross-pieces, and extending the whole length of the said portion, but not quite as wide or as high as the same, so as to leave a space, a, on each sidefor the free circulation of air into and between each compartment, as shown in figs. 2 and 3. An opening is made at the head portion of the casing a, in which is fitted an oblong open casing, b,.as shown in figs. '2 and 4, for the purpose of allowing the face in the lower compartment to be seen from the top of the casket. The casing a is made ofshect metal, by preference, and is designed, when in use, to be filled with ice, a tube, 0, being fitted in one end to allow the melted ice to run off., In the bottom of the lower compartment, B, is a rack, R, which is supported upon cross-pieces e 2, so as ,to expose the whole surface of the body,- which is laid thereon, to' the cold air that circulates freely throughout the compartments. An inclined headpiece, D, is attached to ope end of the rack. It is formed of a block, hollowed out and lined with India rubber. On each side of the head portion of the compartment Bis fitted a pane of glass to admit light to the face of the corpse, so that the same may be easily seen by day or night. The stand S is made slightly inclined from one I end to the other, for the purpose of causing the water from the melted ice to run ofi' freely.from the casing 11.

The body to;be preserved is laid upon the rack R in the compartment 13. Thecompartment A, having the casing a filled with ice, is then fitted upon the lower portion B, so as to form an air-tight connection with the same. The air becoming ery cold by contact with the ice, circulates through the open spaces a, at the sides of the casing is, and passing down into the apartment B, has access to all parts of the body as it rests upon the rack R, and serves to keep the body sufiiciently cold to preserve it for a great length of time. By means of a glass in the top or cover of the casket, and the open casing 12, the face of the body may at all times be seen. when the body is to he removed for interment, the compartment A is taken off, and the rack R is easily lifted up with the body upon it, and the latter transferred to its proper receptacle. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desiretc secure .by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The ice-chamber or casing 11, in combination with the compartments A and B, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. I claim the ice-chamber a, in combination with the'compartment A and air-spaces s, as and for the purpose specified.-

3. I claim the casing or opening 6, in combination withthe ice-chamber a, as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to'this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' CHARLES H. KIMBALL.

Witnesses: I

Joe. E. ADAMS, M. S. G. WILDE. 

